Software engineering at a distance

I describe my experiences in teaching a first graduate level software engineering course using distance education. Held during the spring semester of 1997, Software Engineering 1 (SE1) was taught to 20 local students in Hartford Connecticut, and 15 tape-delay students located at eight different sites across the country. The distance learning environment, coupled with the fact that the local and tape-delay students were on a variety of viewing schedules presented a myriad of challenges to effective instruction. This paper details the contents and approach used in SE1, and describes the distance learning experience from both the instructor´s perspective and the students´ viewpoints. I outline my perceived impact of the course, and summarize student response to the course including verbatim student feedback. Based on the mixed results that both my students and I experienced, I conclude the paper with a discussion of changes I would like to make the next time SE1 is taught via distance education